The Fall - Book 1

77. I...I think she's waking up.

⚠️ TW: hospital setting; medical treatment; mention of wounds; mention of SA⚠️

NOVEMBER 8, 2018 — AVENGERS COMPOUND — BUCKY

Throughout the night, I doze lightly, waking every time the door opens or one of the machines beeps. Each time I wake, I see that I still have Réa's hand in mine. Bruce comes in several times, hanging new bags of fluids and administering Réa's sedative. He doesn't speak, just nods at me, a kind expression on his face. In these brief periods of wakefulness, I keep my eyes on Réa; she's the last thing I see every time I doze off.

When I wake again to the opening of the door, this time it's immediately followed by Wanda poking her head into the room.

"Morning, Bucky," she whispers.

I nod at her in acknowledgement. Looking at the wall-mounted digital clock, I see it reads six-thirty A.M..

"Bruce and Nat are right behind me," she says as she enters the room, leaving the door ajar.

Sure enough, a couple of seconds later, Bruce and Nat appear in the doorway.

"Good morning, Bucky," Nat says softly.

"How did you fare last night?" Bruce asks. "When I wasn't in here?"

I sigh. "I'm not going to lie. It was difficult at first. The wall is fine, Bruce," I snap, noticing him slide his eyes toward the wall. "It was difficult at first," I repeat. "But I managed. Strange actually said something that helped." I pause. "I'm guessing you and Wanda are here to change her bandages and her gown, Nat?"

Nat nods. "We are," she replies, holding up a clean, folded gown.

"I'm staying," I say. "I'll stand on the other side of the curtain, but I'm not leaving. Not again. I'm not going anywhere unless Réa tells me to."

Nat nods; Wanda gives me a faint smile.

"I'll hang this fresh bag of fluids and administer her antibiotics, then get out of here so you ladies can take care of her," Bruce says.

"Bruce?" I say.

"Yeah?"

"I, uh, I know you often say you're 'not that kind of doctor'...I just want to say thanks for letting Strange teach you how to do what you're doing to help Réa. I appreciate you taking care of her. I'm sure Tony and Pepper do, too." I clear my throat. "Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks."

Bruce gives me a nod, and busies himself with Réa's I.V.. After he leaves, I move to stand on the other side of the room, drawing the curtain. I hear Wanda and Nat pulling on gloves and the rustling of what I assume are Réa's blankets, followed by snaps and more rustling of what must be her gown. I hear the peel of adhesive as bandages are removed, and crinkling of the packages as new ones are opened. I also hear faint sniffling; I clench my jaw and my hands form fists at the knowledge of why Nat and Wanda are crying. I eventually hear more snaps and rustling, followed by footsteps.

Wanda opens the curtain. "You can come sit back down now, Bucky," she says, her voice soft. I see that her eyes are red, and there are tear tracks on her cheeks.

With a nod, I return to the recliner, yet again taking Réa's hand in mine. I look at Nat and see that she has been crying as well.

"How...um, how are they healing?" I ask, turning my gaze back to Réa.

"Considering this is the beginning of her fourth day here, there's not a lot of change, but there is some. All of the ones on her arms and legs look like they're healing well; the deeper ones on her torso are healing, but not quite as well or as quickly as those. Nothing appears infected, though, so that's a positive." She hesitates briefly. "As for the...the other wounds, we, um, we don't check those. Doctor Lawrence said daily checks weren't required...but she's actually coming by today to do a checkup, so you could ask her."

At the mention of Réa's other wounds, my jaw clenches; my eyes mist and I swallow hard. Wanda moves to my side and gently places a hand on my arm. After a few moments, she speaks.

"I'm sure you don't feel like eating, but you know you need to. Why don't Nat and I bring you some breakfast so that you can stay here with Réa?"

"Thank you, Wanda," I whisper.

She gives my arm a gentle squeeze before she and Nat leave.

I just sit by Réa's bedside, watching her sleep as I continue holding her hand. A little while later, Wanda and Nat return.

"We're back with breakfast. And a lot of coffee," Wanda says, holding up a foil-covered plate and a large travel mug.

Clearing my throat, I thank her. Reluctantly letting go of Réa's hand, I take the plate and mug, setting the plate on the cabinet beside her bed. I take a sip of the coffee, before setting it down and uncovering the plate. Wanting to have Réa's hand back in mine, I wolf down the food so fast that I hardly taste it before draining the coffee.

"What time is Doctor Lawrence supposed to be here?" I ask.

Nat speaks. "I'm not sure; let me go ask Bruce." She leaves the room, returning shortly after. "He said she's supposed to be here at eleven o'clock. So in just under three hours."

"Thanks, Nat," I start to turn toward her as I speak, but stop when I feel Réa's fingers twitch in my hold. Quickly turning back to her, I speak softly. "Doll?"

"What is it, Bucky?" Wanda asks.

"I...I think she's waking up. Her fingers twitched."

"I'll get Bruce," she opens the door and calls for him.

Bruce enters the room, looking at me. "She probably is waking up; it's time for her to have another dose of the sedative...actually, it's a little past seven hours. I'm running a bit behind. I'll go get it, and be right back."

A few moments after he leaves the room, Réa's eyes flutter open.